Girl of the Year Natalie Borrego with Woman of the Year candidates Stacey Donaldson, left, Hannah Rice, Stephanie Mercer, Stephanie Estes and Naomi Binkley. (Heather Leider, Special to The Denver Post)

A 10-week fundraising campaign to determine who will be crowned Woman of the Year and Man of the Year by Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society[1] is at the halfway point, and it’s looking like their goal of raising $400,000 will be met.

“In 2013, our 13 candidates raised an unprecedented $363,000,” says the chapter’s executive director, Rebecca Russell. “I’m confident that the 14 we have this year will beat that.”

The winners will be announced at a Grand Finale Gala to be held May 17 at the Marriott City Center. The titles go to the man and woman raising the most money. Each dollar raised counts as one vote.

Denver residents hoping to become Woman of the Year are Naomi Binkley, founder and managing partner of Fireside Production[4]; Stephanie Mercer, who is with Inleit Properties; Stephanie Estes; and Aiello Public Relations & Marketing[5] chief Wendy Aiello. Hannah Rice, a high school student from Castle Rock, is vying for the title, too, as is former CBS4 meterologist Stacey Donaldson, who is now an agent with RE/MAX Alliance in Westminster[6].

The Boy and Girl of the Year — Charlie Hooper and Natalie Borrego — have already been crowned. They are both 7 years old and in remission from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Charlie Hooper was diagnosed just after his third birthday. The doctors thought he had a fractured fibula and put him in a cast. When it was removed, they realized his leg was worse, not better. After a complete blood workup, they found blast cells in his blood and diagnosed him with ALL.

In 2011, Natalie developed little bruises all over her body, so her parents took her to the emergency room to see what was wrong. The doctors checked her blood, took her temperature and told her parents that she had cancer; she was diagnosed with ALL.

“Charlie and Natalie are an inspiration to all of us and serve as representatives of the many children in Colorado affected by blood cancer,” says Russell.

Last year, the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society conducted 17 different education programs for blood cancer patients and their caregivers in the metro Denver area. The chapter also connected 192 newly diagnosed blood cancer patients to trained blood cancer survivors, providing one-to-one peer support for them. The chapter also sponsors monthly support groups.

For more information about the Man & Woman of the Year campaign, to purchase tickets to the Grand Finale Gala or to support the candidates’ efforts, visit the event website[14] or call Caitlin Selby, 720-440-8629.

Boy of the Year Charlie Hooper with Man of the Year candidates Mark Dietz, back row left, Martin Baca, Jason Epstein and Josh Davies. Middle row: Steve Hicks, left, and Hugo Leon. (Heather Leider, Special to The Denver Post)